I have
so many ideas, so many thoughts swirling around my head, but I can
never seem to express them when I sit down to write #writersblock.
In an effort to make this blog more
consistent and interesting, I have thought of a few topics that I would
like to write about, instead of just the usual mumbo jumbo that comes
out when I don't plan properly.
One topic that has been on my mind a lot
lately is money/spending/online shopping, and specifically, how do I
know if my online shopping habit is actually an addiction?
Shopping is one of the easiest things to do
online these days. One-click checkout, saved passwords and credit
cards, store cards, loyalty dollars, coupon codes, free shipping,
allowing returns to the store etc. For me, working full time, it is so
much easier for me to shop online either from my phone or work computer,
and if it doesn't fit/I don't like it, I can easily return it to the
store. But lately I am SHOCKED when I get my credit card statements, and
I can't remember exactly what I bought, and I am positive that my
roommate is sick of packages being dropped off ALMOST EVERY DAY. Amazon
and Banana Republic/GAP/Old Navy are by far the most frequent online
shopping havens (hello Amazon Prime and BR credit card), and my concern
is that its becoming more than just a convenience thing, that it could
be an actual addiction. I love the idea of a package waiting for me when
I get home, a new book, a high tech
scale (Groupon was offering a really cool one!), 3 cardigans, a dress
and a shirt. It's all so easy, and I get the same endorphin high when I
click CONFIRM as I would in an actual store. Add in online codes,
avoiding parking and traffic, and I'm sold. I'm sure I am not the only
one that this is an issue for, but my question is, when does it stop
being a savvy strategy and start being a real problem?
Aside from my online shopping habit, money
has been stressing me out lately. Take a VERY spendy December
(christmas, birthdays, weddings, travel, etc), $4,000.00 eye surgery,
and add in the usual suspects like rent, utilities, 3 credit cards,
happy hours, dinners, gas, groceries, plane tickets, half marathon
entries, Color Runs, soccer fees, yoga membership etc, and I
feel anxious every time I look at my accounts. I also need new tires for
my car like yesterday, a transmission leak that needs to be fixed, and I
want to buy a new car! Now ,don't get me wrong, I have a good job, and I
make enough money to support myself, and I don't live outside my means,
but it can be very stressful seeing so much go out, and feel like not
enough ever comes in. I know this is just temporary, hopefully the
expenses will taper off in the next few weeks, and I am committing
myself to drastically reduce my online
shopping, so I can feel like I am on an even keel again. This also
makes me think about people who really do live paycheck to paycheck, and
don't have the cushion of savings that I do, or the extra income to
buy clothes, go on trips and
join a yoga studio. So I am keeping those people in my heart and head,
being thankful that I have a job and enough money, and trying to be a
little more judicious with my spending.
Thanks for listening to all that rambling, it was just something I needed to get off my chest/head/heart.
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